UK: Elite Fabric Show Reaches Record Levels

Trimmings from Taiwan and simulation suede fabrics from Korea were among the globally garnered ranges on view at last week's autumn 2000 Elite Fabric Show.Other attractions included French made re-embroidered chantilly laces dotted all over with sparkling sequins or diamante beads. There were also 'dirty' denims which, UK distributor Chadwick Textiles hastened to assure prospective buyers, aren't actually dirty, simply cunningly finished to give the currently fashionable impression of distress caused by long wear.It looks as though organisers Phil and Sandy Phillips have now achieved their long held ambition of making the show the most important London based textile trade fair. The autumn 2000 Elite event attracted a record 80 exhibitors, their ranks obviously swollen by the recent amalgamation with London Preview.Attendances were up too. By noon on the first day they were double those of the full two days of the previous session.Many UK store groups apparently echo the views expressed by Becky Buchanan of Jaeger who told Elite's organisers: "We can't afford to send all our buyers to Premiere Vision but we can manage to send the whole team to a London based exhibition where we know they will be able to see all the major trends under one roof." The success of this autumn's show has meanwhile encouraged the organisers to make a further move in spring 200l when it will transfer from the Cumberland Hotel to the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington on March 14 and l5. Although still primarily a show for the UK agents handling manufacturers' ranges, Elite is beginning to attract weavers such as Crowther, the woollen and worsted specialist. Other first time Elite exhibitors showing at the Cumberland included silk specialists Henry Bertrand and James Hare as well as Riopele UK and Misan.